trek fuel ex 8 upgrades

4 upgrades & 7 updates on our Fuel EXe long-term test bike | Trek Fuel EXe Review

The not-so-minor details.

2023 Trek Fuel EXe

https://www.trekbikes.com

$9,499 AUD - $12,999 AUD

The Trek Fuel EXe was launched just a few months ago, arriving to much fanfare thanks to its unique TQ-HPR50 motor and clean aesthetics. We were totally captivated by the smooth and quiet motor performance, while the low weight, balanced geometry and supportive suspension gave it an impressively playful and agile character on the trail.

We’ve since spent a load more time aboard our test bike, and have made a few key changes and upgrades along the way. For those who are curious about this lightweight e-MTB, or for those who already own one and are looking to delve a bit deeper into its capabilities, here’s a look at what we’ve learned from our long-term review of the Trek Fuel EXe.

There’s an app for that

The release of the Fuel EXe has been accompanied by a new app called Trek Central.

Designed specifically for the Fuel EXe, the app incorporates a number of features including ride tracking, navigation and range estimation. It allows you to tune the performance of the TQ HPR50 motor, and it provides recommendations on suspension and tyre setup. You can pair the app with a heart rate monitor, and it’ll even talk to SRAM TyreWiz and AirWiz modules to provide live pressure readouts.

It’s easy to tune the TQ-HPR50 motor

The most interesting component of the Trek Central app is the Perfect Tune function. This lets you adjust the motor’s power output and assistance behaviour across each of the Eco, Mid and High assist modes. Within each mode you can adjust the Maximum Power, Assist Factor and Pedal Response using a simple sliding scale.

Our main interest here was to see if we could give the TQ motor a little more punch for shorter rides. Although the High mode already comes with the Maximum Power set to the full 300W, it is possible to increase both the Assist Factor and Pedal Response settings, which is exactly what we did.

With both settings maxed out, the Fuel EXe accelerates faster and requires less pedal input to deliver maximum power. It still requires plenty of input, and it isn’t as gutsy as a full-powered motor like a Bosch Performance Line CX or Shimano EP8, but it is noticeably quicker compared to the stock settings.

Of course the downside is reduced range, and it’s possible to rinse that 360Wh battery pretty quickly, especially for heavier riders. It works well for an hour-of-power session after work, but for longer rides you’ll want to make use of the Eco and Mid settings, and consider dialling down the Assist Factor. This will encourage you to pedal harder to receive maximum motor support, while only relying on the High setting when you really need it.

It still has some lag

In our initial review, we mentioned that the TQ-HPR50 motor didn’t always provide support when we wanted, exhibiting some lag in certain circumstances.

Now we aren’t referring to the mechanical pickup of the motor. That is near-instantaneous, with very little free-play in the cranks before they engage the drive system. Rather we mean the delay between when you input a pedalling force, to the point that the motor starts delivering power output.

Even with the Pedal Response set to the maximum level, this delay can still sometimes occur. If you’re climbing in a higher gear at a slower cadence, pausing to freewheel over an obstacle won’t be met with instant power delivery once you get back on the gas. Similarly, if you’re cruising along at speed and need to pause on the pedals, there is some lag in the motor’s pickup when you begin pedalling again.

To avoid this, we’ve found the TQ-HPR50 motor to provide better support at higher cadences. Make use of the lower gears, spin at a higher RPM, and the motor will respond faster and more willingly.

Generally speaking though, this is a motor that is here to give you a subtle helping hand rather than feeling like you have a rocket booster strapped to the bike. The soft and smooth power delivery is what contributes to its discreet and energy-efficient performance, allowing the Fuel EXe to be built with such a small and lightweight battery in the first place.

The wide Q-factor may be a bother

Despite spending another couple of months on the Trek Fuel EXe, I’ve not gotten used to its wide stance at the pedals.

To clarify, the TQ-HPR50 is one of, if not the smallest mid-drive motors on the market, and its bottom bracket axle is narrow at 135mm. The issue is with the carbon e*13 crank arms that come on the Fuel EXe 9.8 and 9.9 models. These bulky cranks add significant width to the overall Q-factor, pushing the pedals further away from the bike.

According to my measurements the Q-factor is nearly 195mm. That is very wide, and it’s caused me some knee pain on longer rides.

I visited a local Trek dealer and compared the Q-factor with the alloy e*13 cranks that come on the cheaper Fuel EXe 9.7 and 9.5 models. The difference is almost 20mm, with the alloy crank arms being considerably slimmer and coming much closer to a crankset on a regular mountain bike.

Many riders won’t be fussed by a wide Q-factor, and indeed the broader stance can improve overall stability on the bike. But for riders with sensitive knees, it is something to consider. Indeed if the Fuel EXe were my bike, I’d be looking at changing out the crank arms.

But it’s oh so quiet

Since reviewing the Trek Fuel EXe, I’ve been riding a whole bunch of other e-MTBs including the Canyon Spectral:ON , the Scott Patron and the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 . Those all make use of full-powered motors that have their various strengths and weaknesses, but one of the most noticeable differences is the amount of noise out on the trail.

The TQ-HPR50 motor is remarkably quiet, even in the highest assist mode with all of the settings maxed out. The pitch and overall volume are so discreet, that every time I jump onto a full-powered e-MTB, it feels like I’m riding a vacuum cleaner.

It’s also unnoticeable on the descents, with none of the freewheel clacking that has plagued the Shimano EP8 and Bosch Performance CX drive units. Along with its smooth and surge-free power delivery, I’ve been really impressed with the experience that the stealthy TQ motor brings to riding the Fuel EXe, which feels closer to a regular mountain bike than a full-powered e-MTB.

The RockShox suspension is performing beautifully

Both the Trek Fuel EXe 9.8 XT and the top-end 9.9 models come fitted with the new 2023 RockShox forks and shocks as standard. Featuring an all-new construction with updated internals, the Lyrik is equipped with the new Charger 3 damper, and the Super Deluxe shock features the RC2 damper.

In our initial review, we found the Fuel EXe’s suspension to be incredibly supportive, but not the most compliant over smaller bumps. That was particularly the case up front with the Lyrik, which even felt harsh in some situations.

I’m happy to report that the suspension has bedded in a lot since new, though I’ve since been riding the Fuel EXe with a different Lyrik Ultimate. This Lyrik had been freshly serviced by SRAM, and it has bedded in beautifully over the last few weeks of riding. Compared to the original fork it is significantly smoother and plusher, especially across smaller rubble. The support is still there, it’s just vastly more comfortable and reactive.

This experience has turned around my earlier feelings on the Lyrik, which I wasn’t overly impressed with. Aside from the different colour, the only difference between these two forks is the fact that the green one had been serviced. It isn’t uncommon to encounter varying levels of assembly grease and oil with mass-produced suspension products, though perhaps the new RockShox forks are more sensitive to it.

My advice to anyone out there with a 2023 RockShox fork that is feeling harsh? Have your local bike shop check the lowers for the proper lubrication levels. It could make all the difference, as it has done on our Fuel EXe.

It’s brilliant with a 160mm travel fork

While the Trek Fuel EXe comes standard with a 150mm travel fork, the frame is rated for use with up to a 160mm fork. And so alongside the green Lyrik Ultimate, I’ve also been testing a Fox 36 GRIP2, both set at 160mm of travel.

The extra 10mm of travel does lift up the BB slightly, and it also slackens the angles a touch. With the longer fork fitted, I needed to nose the saddle down slightly, and I dropped the stem down one spacer to bring the grips down to the same level as before.

On the trail the longer fork feels fantastic. There may be a touch more front wheel wander on the climbs, but having lowered the stem to get more weight over the front, it’s pretty minimal. And the added ground clearance has actually improved the Fuel EXe’s technical climbing abilities, allowing me to keep pedalling over chunky sections with less fear of pedal strikes.

It’s on the descents where the extra 10mm of travel has been most welcome though, delivering increased grip and control when things get rough and rowdy. The whole bike feels more planted, and it’s plusher overall.

I was worried the bigger fork might feel mismatched with the 140mm of rear travel, but that hasn’t been the case. The Fuel EXe is a mighty capable bike, and its rear suspension is nice and progressive with plenty of end-stroke support thanks to the Hydraulic Bottom Out feature in the new Super Deluxe shock. Because it uses its travel in such a controlled manner, it actually feels more balanced with the bigger fork up front.

With that in mind, I can highly recommend experimenting with a longer fork on your Fuel EXe. The good news is that this a relatively cheap upgrade, as you only need to buy a 160mm air shaft to extend the RockShox Lyrik and Fox 36.

Mullet compatibility

A lesser known fact about the Trek Fuel EXe is that it can be run as a mullet. While the bike comes standard with 29in wheels and the Mino Link set in the Low position, Trek says flipping the chip into the High position will help counter the drop in BB height if you decide to fit a 27.5in rear wheel.

That’s true to an extent, though the difference in BB height between the High and Low positions is only 7mm. In our experience with trying out mullet conversions on other bikes, that difference isn’t quite enough. If we were to mullet the Fuel EXe, we’d recommend pairing that setup with a 160mm travel fork to help lift the BB up again to roughly the same spot as the stock setup.

The downside of fitting a 27.5in rear wheel? The TQ’s speed sensor can’t be recalibrated for a different wheel circumference, so the system will still assume you have a 29in wheel fitted. This will affect the speed readout on the top tube display, changing the motor’s behaviour slightly and resulting in a lower actual cutoff speed.

If you’re prepared to put in more effort at the pedals however, the mullet setup will be an effective way to add further agility into the Fuel EXe while increasing bum clearance for shorter riders. See our recent Specialized Stumpjumper mullet review  if you’re keen to know more about the advantages and disadvantages.

Burlier tyres are a great upgrade

While the stock Bontrager SE5 tyres on the Trek Fuel EXe are decent all-rounders, we did find ourselves wishing for more bite up front. As well as wanting a stickier and more aggressive set of tyres, we were also curious to try out a slightly narrower width to improve handling precision.

Since reviewing the bike in its stock form, I’ve been riding the Fuel EXe with a set of Continental Kryptotal tyres. This combination features a front and rear specific tread pattern, and I elected for the burlier Enduro casing option that features the Soft rubber compound.

We’ll have a separate feature coming on the Continental tyre range, but so far I’ve been really impressed with this setup on the Fuel EXe. The 2.4in width suits the bike well, and the sturdy casings offer a really nice balance of stability and damping. Along with the soft rubber compound, the level of grip is outstanding, inspiring more confidence and control compared to the stock SE5s. Along with the 160mm fork up front, I’ve been able to push the Fuel EXe harder and faster on the descents, while enjoying a more responsive attitude through twisty singletrack.

Dialling in the contact points

As with the tyres, I’ve also been trying out some different contact points on our Trek Fuel EXe test bike. The stock Bontrager saddle and grips will be fine for most riders, but there’s always room for personalising these touch points to improve comfort and control.

I swapped the Bontrager Arvada with an Ergon SM E-Mountain Pro saddle, which features a pronounced kick-tail profile. This elevated ramp at the end of the saddle is particularly beneficial on an e-MTB, as it helps to anchor your sit bones while you’re pedalling in the saddle on a steep climb. The ramp is subtle enough that it doesn’t feel weird on the flats though, and combined with the broad platform, relief channel and OthoCell inserts, this has quickly become my favourite e-MTB saddle.

Along with the saddle I’ve fitted a set of Ergon GD-1 grips. These utilise Ergon’s high-end Factory rubber compound, which is incredibly tacky while being quite durable. Along with the tapered profile and one-way traction grooves, the GD-1s provide a more tactile feel and much improved damping over the stock grips. A small but meaningful upgrade, which doesn’t cost a lot either.

Flow’s Verdict

We continue to be impressed by the Trek Fuel EXe, which stands as one of the most agile and enjoyable electric mountain bikes we’ve ever ridden. The discreet TQ motor allows for elegant packaging, while offering quiet and subtle power delivery on the trail. And the option to tune the motor via the Trek Central app means you can customise its performance to suit your range requirements.

It’s also been great fun trying out different upgrades on our long-term test bike. The 160mm travel fork is a winner, offering a plusher and more controlled ride quality that allows you to capitalise on the Fuel EXe’s descending capabilities. Similarly, switching the stock tyres out for burlier casings and stickier rubber has levelled up traction and control. If you’re a Fuel EXe owner and you’re looking to broaden its performance window, we can highly recommend those upgrades.

Keen to know more about the tech and development behind the new bike, as well as prices and specs for the full range? Read on for our Trek Fuel EXe review .

Watch our Trek Fuel EXe video review here:

• Submit for Review
• Terms & Conditions

Enjoy reading this?

Get similar articles delivered directly to your inbox

• Fuel EX 8 Gen 5

Trek Fuel EX8 - Upgrades ?

trekhead wrote: Mick I`ve got the same bike and I also wanted to change things up a bit. I wanted to get the right balance of actual `tartyness` while acheiving the over done `look` I was after. Too many things to list, but check out my thread: http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12693682

• All Categories
• 18.2K BikeRadar team
• 184K Road cycling forum
• 137.2K Mountain biking forum
• 28.1K Commuter cycling forum
• 1.3K Family & kids cycling forum
• 2.9K Stolen & found bikes
• 9.5K Buy & sell

Site footer

• Facebook White
• Terms & conditions
• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy
• Manage Privacy Settings

• Rocky Mountain
• Specialized
• YT Industries
• Allied Cycle Works
• Black Market
• DALLINGRIDGE
• Diamondback
• Early Rider
• EVO Bicycles
• Growler Bikes
• Guerrilla Gravity
• iGO Electric
• Intense 951
• Juiced Bikes
• View all brands
• Production Privee
• Rad Power Bikes
• Rambo Bikes
• Riese & Müller
• Soul Fast E Bikes
• Spark Cycleworks
• State Bicycle Co.
• Structure Cycleworks
• Surface 604
• Van Nicholas
• Vintage Electric
• We Are One Composites

• Cross Country

• All Mountain

Trek Fuel EX 8 Gen 5

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Colour / Rage Red to Dnister Black Fade, Alpine Blue/Deep Dark Blue

Size / XS 27.5"" (Low, High), SM 27.5" (Low, High), SM 29" (Low, High), MD 29" (Low, High), ML 29" (Low, High), LG 29" (Low, High), XL 29" (Low, High), XXL 29" (Low, High)

Weight / 30 lb 8.9 oz (13,860 g)

At a glance

- ABP (Active Braking Pivot) rear suspension design

- XS has 27.5″” wheels, SM available with 27.5″ or 29″ wheels, MD-XXL have 29″ wheels

- Geometry adjustable via Mino Link flip chip in rear rocker link pivot

- Straight Shot frame design with Knock Block handlebar rotation limiter

- Control Freak internal cable routing

- Includes Bontrager TLR tubeless rim strips, valve stems, and sealant

- Weight given for size MD set up tubeless

Where To Buy

Specifications

• Frame Alpha Platinum Aluminum, magnesium rocker link, molded chainstay and lower down tube protection
• Fork FOX FLOAT 34 Rhythm, EVOL, GRIP damper, 44mm offset, Kabolt thru-axle
• Shock FOX FLOAT DPS Performance, EVOL, RE:aktiv damper, 3-position lever, custom tune, 210mm length, Stroke: 52.5mm (27.5""), 55mm (29")
• Hubs Bontrager alloy, sealed bearings, 110x15mm Boost front, 148x12mm Boost rear with Rapid Drive freehub and MICRO SPLINE driver
• Wheels Bontrager Line Comp 30, tubeless ready
• Wheel Size 29" 27.5"
• Spokes Bontrager wheelset
• Tires Bontrager XR4 Team Issue, Inner Strength sidewalls, aramid bead, 120 TPI, tubeless ready, 2.6"" front, 2.4" rear
• Chain Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed
• Crank Shimano SLX M7100, Length: 170mm (XS-LG), 175mm (XL/XXL)
• Bottom Bracket Shimano MT500, 92mm PressFit
• Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed, long cage
• Shifters Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed
• Brakeset Shimano MT420, 4-piston, Shimano RT66 180mm 6-bolt rotors (203mm front rotor on MD-XXL), Shimano MT4100
• Handlebar Bontrager Line, alloy, 750mm width, 27.5mm rise, 35mm clamp diameter
• Saddle Bontrager Arvada, hollow chromoly rails, 138mm width
• Seatpost Bontrager Line dropper, 31.6mm, Single bolt Drop: 100mm (XS/SM) 150mm (MD-XXL)
• Stem Bontrager Elite, 0° rise, 35mm bar clamp, Length: 35mm (XS/SM), 45mm (MD-XXL)
• Grips Bontrager XR Trail Comp, nylon lock-on
• Headset Trek Knock Block Integrated, 58° radius rotation limiter, cartridge bearings

Q: How much is a 2023 Trek Fuel EX 8 Gen 5?

A 2023 Trek Fuel EX 8 Gen 5 is typically priced around $3,930 USD when new. Be sure to shop around for the best price, and also look to the used market for a great deal.

Q: Where to buy a 2023 Trek Fuel EX 8 Gen 5?

The 2023 Trek Fuel EX 8 Gen 5 may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: How much does a 2023 Trek Fuel EX 8 Gen 5 weigh?

A 2023 Trek Fuel EX 8 Gen 5 weights 30 lb 8.9 oz (13,860 g).

Q: What size wheels does the 2023 Trek Fuel EX 8 Gen 5 have?

The 2023 Trek Fuel EX 8 Gen 5 has 29" and 27.5" wheels.

Q: What size 2023 Trek Fuel EX 8 Gen 5 should I get?

No comments on this bike yet. Why not be the first?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want more MTB in your mailbox?

The latest on mountain bikes delivered straight to your mailbox.

More Bikes in Range View All

Trek Fuel EX 7

Trek Fuel EX 5

Trek Fuel EX 9.8 GX AXS

More trail bikes view all.

Niner RIP 9 RDO 27.5+ 3-Star

CVA suspension system, Internal and external dropper post routing, Electronic drivetrain wiring compatibilty (including integrated battery storage in the frame)

Cube STEREO HYBRID 120, PRO 750

Moustache Samedi 27 Trail 4 W

Weight with tubeless tire setup, Internal cable routing, Full battery charge in 3.5 hours, 60% minimum residual capacity after 500 cycles (around 25,000 km),

Deals View All

View all deals, recent posts view all.

Blackburn Honest Digital Pressure Gauge Review

It's 2020 people. The squeeze and bounce test doesn't cut it anymore (and this is…

Comparing Mountain Bikes

Mountain Bikes are complicated machines. They have parts from hundreds of different manufacturers, come in…

Undomestic Mountain Bikes: Here’s what we know

Update March 2020: Undomestic has announced that they are manufacturing frames "at this moment" and…

Send Feedback

Have a suggestion? Looking for a bike that's not on MTB Database? Or perhaps you've spotted an error?

We'd love to hear from you. Let us know with the form below.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience possible. Learn more.

About MTB Database

Explore, search and compare thousands of the world’s best mountain bikes here on Mountain Bike Database.

Compare prices, components, suspension, reviews, images and more on current and past MTB’s. You can even share reviews, comments and questions on mountain bikes. View and compare a huge selection of bikes from brands such as Trek , Specialized , Giant , Santa Cruz , Norco and more .

We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information for mountain bikes on MTB Database. If you’ve spotted any issues, please let us know . We also include helpful tools, such as our frame size calculator, to assist you in choosing the right mountain bike. Bear in mind that these tools serve as a guide and simply provide a general indication. Refer to information provided by your bike manufacturer for the most applicable information for your bike.

Bikes By Brand

Bikes by year, bikes by riding style, bikes by wheel size, popular bikes.

• 2022 Specialized Epic EVO Comp
• 2022 Trek Marlin 6
• 2022 Specialized Enduro Comp
• 2022 Specialized S-Works Epic EVO
• 2022 Specialized Epic EVO Expert
• 2022 Giant Fathom 29 1
• 2022 Trek Marlin 7

Latest Bikes

• 2023 Commencal SUPREME DH V5 SIGNATURE 70'S
• 2023 Orange Phase 29 Factory
• 2022 Commencal META SX V4 TEAM Frame
• 2023 Commencal SUPREME DH V5 SIGNATURE LTD
• 2023 Commencal META SX V4 - Frame
• 2023 Riese & Müller Swing4 vario
• 2023 Riese & Müller Swing4 silent

• Register New User
• First Looks
• Friday Fails
• Community Blogs
• Fantasy League DH
• Places Directory

2017 Trek Fuel EX 8 Dropper Upgrade

Cool Features

• Forum Listing
• Marketplace
• Advanced Search
• Mountain Bike Manufacturer Forums
• Bike Manufacturers

Fuel EX with 150mm fork

I agree......not sure why it comes with 130, as it is so much better with 140 or 150. I have done some great descents with this and it climbs great too.  

techfersure

I bought a EWS Team Trek 9.9 from a Trek Development mechanic with Fox 36 set at 150mm and X2 metric shock. He told me totally acceptable with this setup or they would not do it. The bike is in as new condition and was only used occasionally by team rider, mostly on Remedy and Slash. I considered dropping fork travel to 140mm but liking st 150mm so far, still climbs well and like slightly slacker HA, will experiment.  

I picked up a new take off Yari 150mm and put on my EX8 mainly to raise the bb height to avoid pedal strikes and I am very happy. I ride in very rocky places tho. I also have a 150 fork on my plus hardtail for the same reason.  

fmf979 said: I picked up a new take off Yari 150mm and put on my EX8 mainly to raise the bb height to avoid pedal strikes and I am very happy. I ride in very rocky places tho. I also have a 150 fork on my plus hardtail for the same reason. Click to expand...

techfersure said: Nice, I too have a 150mm on my Specialized Fuse! Click to expand...

techfersure said: View attachment 1204802 View attachment 1204803 Bad boy 9.9 ex with 150mm 36 and X2 metric, BB in low position just a tad under 13.5" Click to expand...

Excellent, not sure at first after all season on it will leave it be. Worst case I would have dropped to 140mm. I will be installing Push Acs3 coil kit after holidays and may go coil rear too after I feel how balanced it is. I have missed coil for some time but coil is back!  

techfersure said: Excellent, not sure at first after all season on it will leave it be. Worst case I would have dropped to 140mm. I will be installing Push Acs3 coil kit after holidays and may go coil rear too after I feel how balanced it is. I have missed coil for some time but coil is back! Click to expand...

Fox Float X2, 210 × 55mm metric. Same eye to to eye but 6mm more travel.  

jpec29 said: Still trying to figure out if you can change the fox 34 29er to 150mm, conflicting information on it. Click to expand...

eastsideride

RAKC Ind said: Bit of "inside info" as the owner of my LBS is related to one of the Trek engineers. This was a random discussion the other day as we discuss some of the threads on here sometimes. 150mm or more being used on the Fuel is not advised and a frame failure that could be caused by a fork that size isn't covered. Crack a main tube or weld at the headtube, it won't be covered. A 175lb rider would have no issues, a rider your size (Im 275) with that much travel increase, the frame isnt designed to handle. Since that much travel also corresponds to more abusive riding, a large rider on increased travel will likely cause a pre-mature frame failure. Since the higher end of the acceptable rider weight combined with stresses of increased travel is beyond the frames design, the simple answer is no warranty as its not right to give a warranty to a feather weight rider and not a large rider for the same failure. With all of that, why a person doesnt just purchase a Remedy instead of a Fuel when 150-160mm travel is desired I will never understand. A Fuel EX with 150mm will not ride the same as a Remedy. If riding the same trail side by side that 150mm + of travel is preferred , pretty much any rider would choose the Remedy. Obviously having a fork with adjustable travel is different. If its set at 140mm but capable of 160mm, since its set within tolerance, not a problem. We went on to discussing trails here versus out west and such, discussing how there is only a couple locations within a days drive that having more than about ~120mm wasnt a total waste and hindrance to speed and handling of area trails. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk Click to expand...

eastsideride said: This is all very true. 140mm is the MAX allowable travel on a Fuel EX and the warranty team at Trek specifies that 10mm over the stock travel is where they draw the line as anything over that is outside of warranty. I've personally seen frame fractures because of too much travel with a larger tube angle paired with rough riding. Actually, remember all the fools with hard tails who put dual crown forks on their bikes and then snapped headtubes landing a jump? Oh the days of those fine PinkBike videos.... Maybe consider a Slash if you really want a 29er with large travel. You can reduce it to 150mm of travel if you really wanted. Click to expand...

brent701 said: Yes and no, My wife's 2019 Fuel EX was upped from 120 to 140mm. Click to expand...

eastsideride said: Well the Fuel EX 5 and 8 Plus models are being spec'd with 140mm from 130mm for current year non-Plus models, which is what that goes off of. It may have been different in the past but the 10mm rule was what I was told. If you have a 20mm addition and your headtube had a fracture or any such damage related to the angle, they take the additional travel into consideration. Just don't go hucking huge drops on a Fuel EX thinking it is a DH or Enduro bike :lol: Click to expand...

brent701 said: Due to her frame size her bike came 120f/130r It's now like all the other plus fuels. 140/130 Click to expand...

frank daleview

I recently rode a yeti SB130 as a demo from my shop in Marquette. As you might expect the bike was an amazing descender but an average climber, less proficient than my 2017 fuel ex 9.8. This inspired me to pursue a 150 fork on the bike. My bikes was originally the plus/140mm travel version which I now run as a 29er. I found a reasonable price on an OEM fox 36 150mm and put on my bike today. The results are impressive. For starters, the fork is about 200g heavier than the 34 it replaced it is ~10mm longer axle to crown. So, 10mm more travel and 10mm longer. It has the same damper (Fit Grip) but has the EVOL air spring. Overall not much to get excited about especially when you consider the extra weight. For me this is not a race bike, it's an aggressive trail bike. I live in marquette, Mi we have a really wide variety of trails ranging from rocky chunder-fest, flow trails, XC, jump trails etc. My average ride involves a fire road climb, some flow/jump trails, a few miles of rock crawling and flowy XC. In other words a great test circuit. the difference in climbing on the smooth long stuff is slight but apparent. Everything changes after that. The 150 36's damping and spring is superb. It absolutely motors through the chunky stuff and surprisingly handles technical climbing at least as good if not better than stock. the downhill performance, as you would expect, is exceptional and needs no further discussion. I expected it to lumber around on the flattish stuff but I was wrong. I had to focus a touch more on getting my weight over the front of the bike it wasn't anything dramatic. No problems with under steer. In summary: At my weight (160 Lbs.) the drawbacks are negligible. With 10mm more length I highly doubt I'm going to expose it to any unusual stress. It weights slightly more and it requires a slight bit of attention when cornering flat. It still climbs remarkably well. Unless I was going to XC race this bike I have no reason what so ever to change it back. Is it an SB 130 killer? Uphill yes, but this mod brings it far more close to its performance on the downhill. What I can say for sure is that even the "performance" Fox 36 is a superb fork and is definitely worth a look. Also in reference to the one of the previous posts, the RS forks tend to measure 10mm longer per length than the fox and this may account for why my account is different than people using Pike and Lyrik forks.  

Ive got a 2018 EX 9.8 29'r that i recently swapped out the OEM fork with a 2019 fox factory 36 150mm grip 2 fork. I set the bike up with a shock wiz at Mt Buller 2 weeks before heading down to Derby in Tasmania for a week of pre EWS fun . Ive been there before on my 2016 Remedy 9.8 so i knew what i was up for in terms of both equipment and mindset and i recon this was as good a hit out for the new set up as it gets I ride a 19.5 large frame. I am 6ft even and weigh in at 95Kg athletic fit you would say. I ride everything from XC trail to 2 x black diamond but on this bike most of my riding is blue trails with a splash of black whenever i get a chance i so i found the OEM Fox 34 130s a tad under gunned for me. Since the fork swap i find the bike outstanding in every aspect of the ride , in particular the fast flow and more technical descents and rock sections. Now to be totally honest i cannot say whether this is in most part to the bigger diameter stanchions and stiffer chassis of the 36's or the added 20mm of travel, however i suspect its both each adding something at differing points in a hit or landing or change of direction. For me climbing is still good with no more leg effort required but just a fraction more weight forward to compensate for a lighter (longer) front end.. If your thinking of doing this i will add that for me the only reason i went to 150mm travel was that Fox wouldn't set my 36's to 140. Not that they couldn't, just that they felt that the fork wouldn't operate within its performance perimeters that far down in its stroke once reset so if i wanted the bigger fork 150 was the shortest i could go. With the front fork now at 150mm travel i had the rear serviced and set heavier for me, set the mino link to the high setting to compensate for the slacker front end,tried a 50mm stem and quickly went back to the stock 60 but dropped the stack height to 1 ring (10mm) to keep the weight forward and run 1 volume spacer in the front . It works really well with this set up and still retain the benefits of flipping the mino link to low if i want to really bomb a trail Why didn't i just get a Slash u ask, well that's a good point and i suppose i did consider it. I rode a 2018 slash several times and the 2018 Remedy also several times (helps when your best mate owns a Trek dealership) however the Remedy was 27.5 specific and the Slash is just not quite versatile enough for what i ride most of the time. I think the EX is well strong enough and without getting some Trek people in trouble i ran it past some guys i know in the tech dept and was told it wasn't a problem go for it. That being said, i wasn't asking if it was still warranted if it breaks i was asking is it safe to do first up and will it make the bike BETTER for me... They said it was within its design limitations and wasn't an issue despite what some people tell you. "Dont huck it off a 20 foot gap to flat of course" i was told but "don't be scared to ride it like u stole it ether" Ive had 20 plus rides on it with the forks and have serviced it a couple of times. I ALWAYS check carbon frames at the head stock after a multi day trip like Derby and so far not a creak or tweak to report. In a nut shell, set up well , i think its a total upgrade for this bike for my weight and riding style. Will it break? who knows although i highly doubt it unless i hit a tree or something hard..but then im prob not to worried about the bike at that point...  

techfersure said: Bad boy 9.9 ex with 150mm 36 and X2 metric, BB in low position just a tad under 13.5" Click to expand...

• ?            
• 15.6M posts
• 521.4K members

Top Contributors this Month